The Relation of Education and Situs of Work to Economic Differences between Blacks and Whites.

Gottfredson, Linda S.

The paper explores the differences in the relationship between educational background and income for black and white men in six different career areas. Previous research has assumed that the value of education is the same across all fields of work. In this study, the author analyzed educational and income data for 20,000 white men and 1,500 black men from the 1970 census reports. All the men's occupations were classified into six categories, including manual trades, scientific, sales and management, and clerical. Regression analyses were used to compare the returns to education for blacks and whites in each type of work. Results show that the income determination process may be similar for blacks and whites in blue-collar work, in science and medicine, and in social service and educational work. However, blacks in sales, management, and clerical work appear to be treated differently than whites in such work. The black men consistently receive lower income per years of schooling than do white men. The differences in these areas may be due to past discrimination against blacks or to differences in the types of job activities and occupational rewards preferred by blacks. (Author/AV)